Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Swain County commissioners schedule work session to review minimum housing ordinance; plan moratorium advisory committee
Summary
Commissioners discussed a draft minimum housing ordinance, with some raising concerns that strict standards could reduce rental supply and increase costs. They agreed to meet in a dedicated June 2 work session to review the draft line-by-line, and staff will solicit applicants for an ad hoc moratorium committee to study ordinance options and report back.
Staff introduced a draft minimum housing ordinance and asked commissioners for initial feedback. Commissioners expressed mixed views: some said basic habitability standards (heat, water, electricity, no holes in floors) are appropriate for rental properties, while others warned heavy-handed enforcement could reduce supply and raise rents in a county with limited housing.
Multiple commissioners recommended a focused preparatory session so the board and staff can identify specific sections needing discussion. The board set a preparatory review for June 2 at 4:00 p.m. to ‘‘go through it real briefly’’ and mark items for public discussion; staff reminded commissioners the ordinance will still require a formal public hearing before adoption.
Related to the moratorium that the board previously enacted, commissioners discussed forming an ad hoc committee to study minimum-housing standards and policy options. The group debated committee size (five vs. seven members), the importance of including building-inspection and environmental-health expertise, and public-membership expectations (experience and meeting-commitment requirements). Commissioners suggested bi-weekly meetings at the outset, regular updates at work sessions, and a nomination form revised to request more detail from applicants.
Staff will solicit applications, include commissioners on the nomination review as ex officio participants, and return a draft committee structure and candidate list at the next regular session. No ordinance vote was taken: the board directed staff to pursue the preparatory review and the committee-selection process before any final action.
